Abstract : A problem in the search for an efficient vaccine against dengue virus is the immunodominance of the fusion loop epitope (FLE), a segment of the envelope protein E that is buried at the interface of the E dimers coating mature viral particles. Anti-FLE antibodies are broadly cross-reactive but poorly neutralizing, displaying a strong infection enhancing potential. FLE exposure takes place via dynamic 'breathing' of E dimers at the virion surface. In contrast, antibodies targeting the E dimer epitope (EDE), readily exposed at the E dimer interface over the region of the conserved fusion loop, are very potent and broadly neutralizing. We here engineer E dimers locked by inter-subunit disulfide bonds, and show by X-ray crystallography and by binding to a panel of human antibodies that these engineered dimers do not expose the FLE, while retaining the EDE exposure. These locked dimers are strong immunogen candidates for a next-generation vaccine.
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01540166
Contributor : Giovanna Barba Spaeth <>
Submitted on : Thursday, June 15, 2017 - 7:12:54 PM Last modification on : Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - 9:37:47 AM Long-term archiving on: : Wednesday, December 13, 2017 - 12:09:50 PM